Multifamily Developers Compete For The Best Amenities In The OC

Luxury amenities are the name of the game in multifamily in the OC.

Many developers are battling it out to offer the best to their residents.

"Today, it's an arms race to compete with The Ritz-Carlton on the amenities," Starpointe Ventures president Tim Strader Jr. said.

Garden Communities development director Ari Astalos said the company offers bowling alleys in its communities.

"They're great," Astalos said. "People love them. The downside is you have to go into the bowling alley business to operate them."

Garden Communities has started putting cryotherapy chambers in its gyms, which also include outdoor fitness stations.

Residents can also enjoy cabanas and TVs at the swimming pools.

"We're trying to create this place where the residents don't want to leave, and it just enhances their quality of life," he said.

Raintree Partners focuses on more boutique-size projects and has provided co-working space at its Dana Point property, vice president of development Rick Price said.

"There's a general enthusiasm and a strong demand we're seeing for community and walkability," he said.

The company is more focused on locations surrounded by amenities, including restaurants and coffee shops in the neighborhood.

Package delivery is another hot issue for developers, according to Starpointe Ventures' Strader.

Most projects are not designed for the volume of package delivery with increased deliveries now coming into play, he said.

Some developers are planning to add, or have already added, cold storage on their properties to handle perishable deliveries.